Cited by 311Cytokine Signaling Pathways and Interactionsinterferon and immune responsesGenomics and Chromatin Dynamics

CDK8 Kinase Phosphorylates Transcription Factor STAT1 to Selectively Regulate the Interferon Response

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Bancerek, Joanna, Poss, Zachary C., Steinparzer, Iris, Sedlyarov, Vitaly, Pfaffenwimmer, Thaddäus, Mikulic, Ivana, Dölken, Lars, Strobl, Birgit +3 more·2013·Immunity

Abstract

Gene regulation by cytokine-activated transcription factors of the signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) family requires serine phosphorylation within the transactivation domain (TAD). STAT1 and STAT3 TAD phosphorylation occurs upon promoter binding by an unknown kinase. Here, we show that the cyclin-dependent kinase 8 (CDK8) module of the Mediator complex phosphorylated regulatory sites within the TADs of STAT1, STAT3, and STAT5, including S727 within the STAT1 TAD in the interferon (IFN) signaling pathway. We also observed a CDK8 requirement for IFN-γ-inducible antiviral responses. Microarray analyses revealed that CDK8-mediated STAT1 phosphorylation positively or negatively regulated over 40% of IFN-γ-responsive genes, and RNA polymerase II occupancy correlated with gene expression changes. This divergent regulation occurred despite similar CDK8 occupancy at both S727 phosphorylation-dependent and -independent genes. These data identify CDK8 as a key regulator of STAT1 and antiviral responses and suggest a general role for CDK8 in STAT-mediated transcription. As such, CDK8 represents a promising target for therapeutic manipulation of cytokine responses.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.immuni.2012.10.017

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  • In macrophages, CDK8 is the main kinase driving STAT1 serine phosphorylation in response to IFN gamma stimulation.

    “In macrophages, CDK8 appears to be the main kinase driving STAT1 serine phosphorylation in response to IFN gamma stimulation”

    From CDK8 fine-tunes IL-6 transcriptional activities by limiting STAT3 resident time at the gene loci (2020) · cites this paper as Bancerek et al., 2013

    The Results section ('CDK8 Phosphorylates S727') shows that CDK8 silencing reduced IFN-γ-induced STAT1 S727 phosphorylation more than CDK9 silencing, but those experiments were in fibroblasts. In bone-marrow-derived macrophages, the Results section ('A Nuclear CDK Mediates Canonical TAD Serine Phosphorylation') shows inhibition by flavopiridol, which is not specific to CDK8. The paper therefore supports CDK8 as a key kinase in this response, but does not establish that it is the main kinase specifically in macrophages. (LLM, conf=0.86)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • CDKs are regulators of STAT1 serine phosphorylation in different systems.

    “Previous studies have described CDKs as regulators of STAT1 Ser phosphorylation in different systems”

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Authors
Bancerek, J., Poss, Z. C., Steinparzer, I., Sedlyarov, V., Pfaffenwimmer, T., Mikulic, I., Dölken, L., Strobl, B., Müller, M., Taatjes, D. J., & Kovarik, P.
Affiliations
  • University of Vienna (AT)
  • University of Colorado Boulder (US)
  • University of Cambridge (GB)
  • University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna (AT)
Corresponding author
Kovarik, Pavel
Venue
Immunity
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2013-02
Volume
38
Issue
2
Pages
250-262
ISSN
1074-7613 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2059553622
Cited by
297
References
53
Citations by year
2026: 32 · 2025: 28 · 2024: 29 · 2023: 21 · 2022: 23 · 2021: 20 · 2020: 24 · 2019: 27 · 2018: 19 · 2017: 24 · 2016: 15 · 2015: 13 · 2014: 13 · 2013: 9
FWCI
8.93
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Immunity (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • Austrian Science Fund
  • Universität Wien
  • National Institutes of Health
  • National Cancer Institute (R01CA127364, P30CA046934)
  • National Institute of General Medical Sciences (T32-GM08759, T32GM008759, T32GM142607)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Oncology › Cytokine Signaling Pathways and Interactions
  • Life Sciences › Immunology and Microbiology › Immunology › interferon and immune responses
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Genomics and Chromatin Dynamics
Keywords
CDK8, STAT1, STAT3, STAT5, serine phosphorylation, transactivation domain, Mediator complex, interferon signaling, interferon-gamma, antiviral response, RNA polymerase II occupancy, gene expression regulation
MeSH terms
Animals, Fibroblasts, Gene Expression Regulation, Humans, Interferon-gamma, Phosphorylation, Promoter Regions, Genetic, RNA Polymerase II, Transcription, Genetic, Signal Transduction, Interleukin-6, Vesiculovirus, Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis, STAT1 Transcription Factor, STAT3 Transcription Factor, STAT5 Transcription Factor, Mice, Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 8, Hep G2 Cells

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